鄧錫軍大使發表署名文章——《<區域全面經濟夥伴關係協定>:中方...

原創 中國駐東協使團 中國駐東協使團

11月20日，印尼《雅加達郵報》發表中國駐東協大使鄧錫軍署名文章《：中方堅定支持東協加強區域合作中心地位》。文章中文內容如下：

11月15日，《區域全面經濟夥伴關係協定》（RCEP）15國領導人通過視頻方式舉行了RCEP第四次領導人會議，並隨後出席見證了RCEP線上簽署儀式。會議發表了《RCEP領導人聯合聲明》，各國領導人均盛讚RCEP的籤署。李克強總理指出，RCEP籤署是是東亞區域合作極具標誌性意義的成果，更是多邊主義和自由貿易的勝利，必將為促進地區的發展繁榮增添新動能，為世界經濟實現恢復性增長貢獻新力量。它讓人們在陰霾中看到光明和希望，表明多邊主義和自由貿易是大道、正道，代表著世界經濟和人類前進的正確方向。

RCEP協定的籤署是今年東亞合作領導人系列會議最重要、最受矚目、最激動人心的成果之一。歷經八年艱苦密集談判，協定最終在本次領導人會議期間籤署，可以說是披荊斬棘、艱難玉成。在全球經濟下行壓力加大、單邊主義和保護主義蔓延的不利環境下，我們高興地看到，2019年11月，RCEP談判整體結束，領導人確立了於2020年籤署協定的目標。籤署前的工作任務依然十分艱巨，包括協定全部文本的法律審核和遺留的雙邊問題等。新冠肺炎疫情的暴發，給RCEP工作帶來很大困難和挑戰。但是，疫情並沒有動搖各方完成RCEP的信心和決心，反而讓各方更加深刻認識到RCEP對於推動地區經濟復甦、加強團結互利合作的巨大作用和偉大意義，增強了推動RCEP如期籤署的緊迫感。RCEP 15方勠力同心，在今年通過視頻會議的形式大力推進談判和法律審核工作，相向而行、彌合分歧，最終成功解決了所有遺留問題，確保了協定的如期籤署。

為什麼RCEP如此受矚目呢？首先就在於它是全球最大的自貿協定。RCEP 15方涵蓋了擁有22億人口（佔全球將近30%）的市場、26.2萬億美元GDP（佔全球約30%）和將近28%的全球貿易，對於世界經濟和全球經貿規則的影響都是舉足輕重、無與倫比的。其次，RCEP成員包括發達國家、發展中國家，還有最不發達國家，各方經濟發展水平迥異，文化背景、政治體制都不一樣，如此多樣化的國家能夠走到一起，彰顯了自由貿易和互利合作的強大魅力。

RCEP協定是一個現代、全面、高水平和互惠的協定。協定由20個章節組成，加上附件及市場準入承諾減讓表超過14000頁，是一份沉甸甸的協定。它涵蓋了此前東協與RCEP非東協國家之間自貿協定所未涉及的領域和紀律。除涉及貨物和服務貿易以及投資的自由化承諾和具體條款外，還包括智慧財產權、電子商務、競爭、中小企業、經濟與技術合作和政府採購等新領域的章節。這些將為域內企業帶來巨大商機，實現區域內商品、服務、人員等順暢流動，形成統一的區域經貿規則，提升區域整體營商環境，降低企業貿易和經營成本，促進區域內資源的優化配置、產業的合理布局。同時，有利於為各國人民提供更加豐富、優質、實惠的商品和服務，提升民眾的獲得感和幸福感。

我認為，RCEP的成功籤署，標誌著我們向這一亞太地區的主要經貿框架又邁出重大一步，是多邊主義和自由貿易的一次重大勝利，對疫情新常態下的地區和全球經濟復甦是重大利好。籤署本身就給地區和全球經濟復甦注入了強心劑，在全球範圍內樹立了榜樣，向世界傳遞了一個強有力信息：抗擊疫情、推動復甦必須堅持和依靠國際合作。等到RCEP實施之後，其紅利就會更加明顯且源源不斷地釋放出來。RCEP協定將促進亞太區域貿易投資增長和區域經濟一體化，加強區域產業鏈、供應鏈穩定和互聯互通，增加就業，拉動各方經濟增長，展現本區域對開放、包容、基於規則的多邊貿易體制的支持，提振全球經貿信心，為推動區域和全球經濟復甦和發展發揮重要作用。

RCEP是由東協提出的最具雄心的自由貿易協定，它增強了東協在區域框架中的中心地位，並促進了東協與中國等區域夥伴的合作。中方讚賞並感謝東協在推進RCEP進程中的卓越領導力與巨大辛勤付出。在RCEP之前，東協與其他5方都已建立了10+1自貿區；為了實現更大程度區域經濟一體化的目標，東協高瞻遠矚，提出了商談建立RCEP的倡議。過去八年來，東協方保持了領導者的擔當，積極推動談判進程，大力協調各方立場，確保談判勢頭始終不減；東協秘書處也在會議籌備、文件準備方面給予了出色保障。正是由於東協的中心作用和巨大努力，才能讓這麼多國家克服在政治、經濟、發展水平、歷史傳統文化的多樣性，最終達成協定。如果沒有東協的領導作用，這個協定是無法達成的。

中國在RCEP進程中始終堅持和維護東協中心地位，予以東協強力支持，並一直發揮積極和建設性作用。習近平主席在中國國際進口博覽會開幕式等多個重要場合，多次呼籲各方儘早達成RCEP協定，並就RCEP多次與相關國家領導人深入交流意見。李克強總理連續四年出席RCEP領導人會議，闡述中方對推動早日達成RCEP協定的主張和看法。中方參加了所有的部級談判、技術談判，主辦了部分部長會和技術談判，始終以「促談、促合、促成」的精神積極做出貢獻。中方在今年上半年就完成了涉及中方的所有實質性談判，在成員中走在前列，為RCEP如期籤署奠定了堅實基礎。

RCEP所帶來的機遇和潛力的充分發揮只有在協定生效後方可實現。因此，各方接下來的首要任務是確保協定早日生效。下一步，各方將履行國內批准程序，協定將在至少6個東協成員國和3個非東協籤署國完成國內手續後生效。中方將積極履行國內程序，會同各方推動協定早日生效。

領導人在聯合聲明中表示，RCEP是一個開放和包容的協定，高度重視作為創始成員國之一的印度在RCEP中的作用，認識到印度對於構建更深、更廣的區域價值鏈具有重要戰略意義，重申RCEP對印度保持開放，將歡迎其加入協定。

未來，隨著RCEP潛力不斷釋放，可能會吸引更多國家參與，我認為這有利於實現更大範圍的貿易投資自由化便利化。我也期待RCEP作為亞太自貿區的主要實現路徑，為亞太自貿區的最終建成做出重要貢獻。

附：《：中方堅定支持東協加強區域合作中心地位》英文

RCEP: Historic milestone for ASEAN centrality

By Deng Xijun, Ambassador of the People Republic of China to ASEAN

On November 15, Leaders of the 15 participating countries in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) held the fourth RCEP Summit via video conference. The Leaders subsequently attended and witnessed the online signing ceremony of the RCEP agreement. The Summit issued a Joint Leaders' Statement on RCEP with all Leaders highly praising the signing of the historic pact.

As Chinese Premier of the State Council Li Keqiang pointed out, the signing of RCEP represents not only a landmark achievement of East Asia regional cooperation, but also a victory of multilateralism and free trade. The signing offers a ray of light and hope to people facing the gloomy international landscape and shows that multilateralism and free trade is the right way forward for the world economy and human civilization. The agreement will definitely inject new energy into promoting regional development and prosperity, and emerge as a fresh force for restoring global economic growth. The signing of the RCEP Agreement is one of the most significant, most awaited and most exciting outcomes of the ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings this year. It went through eight years of arduous and intensive negotiations, overcame all the difficulties and was finally signed during this summit. In November 2019, against the backdrop of mounting downward pressure on the global economy and the spread of unilateralism and protectionism, we were pleased to see that the RCEP negotiations were concluded in general. The tasks before the signing were still considerable, including legal scrubbing of the full text and remaining bilateral market access negotiations.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has certainly posed new difficulties and challenges to this work. However, the pandemic has not shaken the confidence and determination of all the 15 parties to complete the RCEP. Instead, it has made all parties more aware of the great impetus and significance of RCEP for promoting regional economic recovery and mutually beneficial cooperation, and has raised the sense of urgency for the timely signing of RCEP. The RCEP participating countries acted with solidarity and worked hard to advance remaining job via video conference this year. At the end, all remaining issues had been resolved successfully, which secured the signing of RCEP as scheduled.

Why is RCEP so significant and unprecedented? First, it is the largest free trade agreement in the world, with a market of 2.2 billion people (almost 30% of the world’s population), a combined GDP of US$ 26.2 trillion (about 30% of global GDP) and nearly 28% of global trade. This means RCEP has huge and incomparable impact on the world economy and global trading rules compared to other FTAs. Second, RCEP comprises a diverse mix of developed, developing and least developed economies. The countries bear various development levels, cultural backgrounds and political systems, etc. The fact that such variety of countries could unite and reach a pact, demonstrates the tremendous appeal of free trade and win-win cooperation.

The RCEP agreement is a modern, comprehensive, high-quality and mutually beneficial agreement. It contains 20 chapters, and is up to over 14,000 pages with the annexes and market access schedules. It includes areas and disciplines that were not previously covered in the existing free trade agreements between ASEAN and non-ASEAN countries participating in RCEP. Aside from the specific provisions that cover trade in goods and services, and investment, RCEP also includes chapters on new areas such as intellectual property, electronic commerce, competition, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), economic and technical cooperation and government procurement. These commitments will open a vast range of opportunities for businesses located in the region, facilitate smooth flow of goods, services and personnel, form unified regional economic and trading rules, improve the overall regional business environment, reduce enterprises』 trade costs and operating costs, and promote the optimal allocation of resources and rational distribution of industries within the region. At the same time, it will help provide more colorful, high-quality and less costly goods and services for people of all countries, and enhance their sense of gain and happiness.

In my view, the successful signing of RCEP marks a new leap towards the major economic and trade framework in the Asia-Pacific region. It is a major victory for multilateralism and free trade, and a major boost to regional and global economic recovery under the new normal of COVID-19 situation. The signing itself has given a strong shot in the arm to regional and global economic recovery, set an example on a global scale, and sent a powerful message to the world: in order to defeat COVID-19 and promote recovery, we must adhere to and rely on international cooperation. Once the RCEP enters info force, its dividends will be more visible and lasting. It will promote trade and investment growth and regional economic integration in the Asia-Pacific, strengthen stability and connectivity of regional industrial chains and supply chains, increase employment, and spur economic growth. It will show support to the open, inclusive and rule-based multilateral trading system, boost global economic confidence, and contribute to regional and global economic recovery and development.

The RCEP agreement is the most ambitious free trade agreement initiated by ASEAN, which contributes to enhancing ASEAN centrality in regional frameworks and strengthening ASEAN cooperation with regional partners including China. China appreciates and thanks ASEAN for its superb leadership and tremendous hard work in advancing the RCEP process. Before the RCEP, ASEAN and the other five parties have established 10+1 FTA respectively. With the great vision of achieving broader regional economic integration, ASEAN put forward the proposal to establish the RCEP. Over the past eight years, ASEAN has maintained its role as a leader, actively pushed forward the negotiation process, coordinated the positions of all parties, and ensured that the momentum of the negotiations was always sufficient. The ASEAN Secretariat has also provided excellent assistance along the way. It was ASEAN's centrality and enormous efforts that enabled so many countries to overcome their political, economic and cultural diversity and finally reach consensus. This agreement cannot come into being without ASEAN leadership.

China has always upheld ASEAN's centrality, given strong support to ASEAN, and played a positive and constructive role in the RCEP negotiations. Chinese President Xi Jinping called on all relevant parties to conclude the RCEP agreement at an early date at China International Import Expo (CIIE) and on other important occasions, and had in-depth exchanges of views with leaders of relevant countries on RCEP. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has attended the RCEP Summit for four consecutive years and expounded China's propositions and views on promoting the early conclusion of RCEP. China has participated in all ministerial-level negotiations and technical negotiations, hosted some of the meetings, and made active contributions in the spirit of promoting dialogue, cooperation and success. In the first half of this year, China has completed all substantive negotiations involving China, leading the way among the members and laying a solid foundation for the signing of the RCEP as scheduled.

The opportunities accruing from the RCEP Agreement and its full potential can only be realised once the Agreement enters into force. So the priority task for all parties is to ensure RCEP enters into force at an early date. As the next step, the 15 parties will fulfill domestic ratification procedures. When at least six ASEAN Member States and three non-ASEAN signatories deposit their instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval with the Agreement’s Depositary, RCEP will enter into force.

As indicated in the Joint Leaders』 Statement, RCEP is an open and inclusive agreement. The Leaders highly value India’s role in RCEP as one original participating country and its strategic importance as a regional partner in creating deeper and expanded regional value chains. In this regard, they reiterate that the RCEP remains open to India and India’s accession to RCEP would be welcome.

In the future, as the potential of the RCEP continues to be unleashed, it may attract more countries to take part. This would be conducive to trade and investment liberalization and facilitation in a larger scope. I also hope that the RCEP, as a major pathway, will make an important contribution to the eventual realization of the Free Trade Area of Asia-Pacific (FTAAP).

END

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原標題：《鄧錫軍大使發表署名文章——《：中方堅定支持東協加強區域合作中心地位》》

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